"Gotcha Day!" "Forever Day!"

What's the difference? That was the question someone asked me just the other day. It's not a big difference in either David's or my mind. It really is one & the same; but it isn't.

Gotcha Day was June 2, 2003. It sort of speaks for itself. This was the day that 15 families sat in a very hot, very un-air conditioned room in the Guangdong Provincial Civil Affairs building for what seemed like years. We waited, & we waited & we waited. Only to find out that the Yangchun babies were arriving later than expected because of traffic delays. I even have a picture of my friend Gary pointing at his watch in impatience. After what seemed like ages, they arrived. I was so busy taking pictures of everyone receiving their baby & videoing our friends' Susan & Art receiving their daughter, that I actually missed hearing our name. In the background I finally heard David yell at me "Hey Tammie! Go get our daughter!" And they handed me the sweetest, quietest little baby who in no way weighed what they told us she weighed as far back as her referral picture was taken. David let me take Erin first & hold her & cry & check that she had 10 fingers & 10 toes. And then I handed David his daughter. And fell in love all over again.

Forever Family Day was June 3, 2003. This was the day that Chun Hua Xu became our daughter Erin Chelsie. We signed the papers, & I started crying. (I know that's a shock.) I looked at David & can remember saying we have to call our parents & tell them she's ours forever & no one can take her from us. When we did finally get back to the hotel, David told me to call my dad first. "Daddy, she's ours. No one can take her from us." And I heard my dad & stepmother cry tears of joy. I think it was about 2:00 am where they live.

We don't make a huge deal over these days. We want Erin to know that they are special, but that just having her in our lives is special. Each year we try to do something a little special. This year it was a pedicure & special dinner followed up with a yummy cake.